CMU School of Drama


Thursday, September 03, 2020

Toyooka Theater Festival brings French flair to Japan’s theater scene

The Japan Times: Performing arts festivals and opportunities to enjoy live entertainment have been few and far between this year due to the ongoing pandemic, but dramatist Oriza Hirata, 57, has high hopes for his version of France’s famed Avignon Festival.

Hirata’s Toyooka Theater Festival is set to take place from Sept. 9 in the scenic area of Tajima, which borders the Sea of Japan in northern Hyogo Prefecture.

2 comments:

Reesha A. said...

This article has got me so interested in and curious about the Toyooka Theater Festival. Started by and scheduled for this year by dramatist Oriza Hirata, the festival, which is meant to replicate the essence of the Avignon Festival, seems to have so much to offer in terms of variety and opportunities.
The festival, originally intended for foreign audiences to be attended by has now been made a domestic one, given the covid- 19 pandemic and how it has impacted the world. But despite all of this, the festival is set to serve the domestic public with new theatrical pieces, opportunities to take part in theater- based activities etc. All thanks to Oriza Hirata's contribution and commitment to the field in Japan.
He has opened up several organizations, theaters, education centres in the nation, in an attempt to further the field as a whole. I really hope that this festival is a success.

Hadley Holcomb said...

This theatre festival seems to be quite a centerpiece for its town. With how many tourists it is bringing in I think that it is very smart for them to open back up to as full of a capacity as they are safely capable of. The importance that the festival is putting on giving people a place to perform in these rocky times is such a comfort, I'm sure, to both the performers and the viewers. The idea to provide free admittance to anyone under the age of 18 is particularly interesting. I think it is a fantastic way to encourage young people to become involved and interested in the theatrical arts. The program seems to be full and exciting with a range of performances sure to capture any audience that watches. The different collaborations on shows that will be performed is exciting and. For example the original work "Zero" by Hirata and the New York composer seems like a particularly good piece and I wish that I could see it in person.